Placer County Providing Sand And Sandbags To Help Residents Prepare For Heavy Rainfall

February 05, 2015

Placer County officials are making available free sand and sandbags to help residents in unincorporated areas prepare for a storm system that is expected to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Northern California through Monday.

Placer County has a list of sand and sandbag locations available on its website: Sandbags. County officials are urging residents to first reuse sandbags left over from the winter storm that hit Placer County on Dec. 11-12 before acquiring new sand and sandbags.

City residents are urged to contact city websites and officials for information about storm-related preparations.

To prepare for the coming storm, residents generally are urged to take such precautions as:

Clearing leaves from drains and gutters;

Securing outdoor objects such as decorations and patio furniture;

Having emergency supplies of food, batteries, blankets and other necessities available in case of extended power outages;

Monitoring weather reports from the National Weather Service and media;

Not driving over downed power lines; and

Turning around to avoid flooded roadways.

The Placer County Office of Emergency Services is monitoring storm data closely in coordination with other agencies such as the Placer County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, local cities, utility companies and fire departments.

The National Weather Service forecast is for two waves of significant precipitation, heavy at times, that will move through the area into early next week. The first will last through Saturday and the second will move through Northern California Sunday into Monday. Breezy to gusty winds are expected, especially tonight through Saturday.

Potential impacts in Placer County include:

Urban and small stream flooding;

Potential for debris flows near wildfire burn scars;

Localized power outages and downed trees due to breezy winds; and

Winter road conditions above 6,000 feet on Friday.

For updated weather information, go to the National Weather Service’s website: Weather.

SAND AND SANDBAG LOCATIONS

Residents who live in unincorporated areas of Placer County can pick up free sand and sandbags at the locations listed below.